Mail delivering and receiving apparatus.



M; MEHRBNS. MAIL DELIVERING AND RECEIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6,1908.

f I MW d 3 WW 1m MW 5 M m 1 N, Z 6 d M W 5 5 6d 4 5 6 3 m r z an z m Z A 3/1 F w w 8 3 0 M h w d; \X\ 6/1 5 m My W M w 0 UNITED STATES MAURICE MEHRENS, OF BLAIR, NEBRASKA.

MAIL DELIVERING AND RECEIVING APPARATUS;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURIoEMEHnENs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Blair, in the county of Washington and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail De livering and Receiving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmg.

This invention relates to improvements in mail receiving and delivering apparatus, and has for its object the provision of means for facilitating the supporting of a mail bag in position to be delivered to a moving vehicle, as for instance, a car, and also the provision of means for facilitating the receiving of a mail bag or an object from a rapidly moving train.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a peculiar device for receivin a mail bag from a rapidly moving train, an which device will automatically move away from the track or the side of the train as soon as the load or bag has been delivered thereto.

Another object of the invention is to overcome the present strain that is placed upon the ordinary type of mail receiving and delivering mechanisms, owingto the rigidity of the support and the non-pivoting feature of the members constituting said support, which will not permit the receiving device to swing freely for overcoming the momentum of the ba or object delivered thereto.

W ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel-constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. 7

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the resent invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe structure depicted in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the inner section of the bag receiving device. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of the auxiliary bag-receiving arm. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the top of the standard. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the retarding device. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a vertical standard,lwhich is provided with laterally-extending braces 2; the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1908.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Serial No; 442,231.

standard iscarried by a su port, asfor instance, the ground, or a p atform made of wood orston'e, and said standard is provided with 'a-so'cket or recess portion3 at lts upper end, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The bag-receiving device comprises an arm composed of an inner section 4 and an outer section 5, which outer section 5 carries a pivotally-mounted hook 6, the hookcapable of being swung upon either side of the section 5 for receivingthe bag in eitherdirec tion. To the outer end of'the section 5 issecured a curved or bowed plate or guide 7, and connected to the outer ends of member 7 are inwardly-extending braces 8, which braces are fixedly secured, at 9, to the sides of section 5. Therefore, it will be noted that the plate or guide 7 is securely braced, and through this plate 7, is extended a portion (as indicated by dotted lines 10) of the hook 6', whereby said hook is pivotally connected to said plate or guide and the section 5 as hereinbefore mentioned.

Catch-devices are provided upon the plate or guide 7 at opposite sides of the section 5, and each catch-device comprises a transverse or horizontal opening 11 in the plate, which opening or aperture 11 is closed at one end, by means of a cup or cap 12, that is secured, by any suitable fastening means, to the inner face of the plate or guide 7, 'Fig. 2. A catch 13 is pivotally mounted, as at 14, and the catch is provided at its outer end, and'upon its inner face with a cup or flanged extension 15, and in the flanged extension or cap 15 in the cap 12 is positioned a coil spring 16, whereby the inner end of the catch 13 is normally positioned between the hook member 6 and the plate or guide 7, so that .a bag may be secured between said plate 7 and the hook, after it has passed over the outwardly-bowed or curved body of the catch 13 and positioned behind its inner flanged edge. Of course, the catch 13 can be uickly pressed inward against the face of t e cleat or guide 7, while the bag is passing between the catch and the hook for positioning the same at the extreme inner end of said hook. The spring 16 and the cap 15 in eachcatch-device act as a guide and produce an eflicient and positive device for performing the desired function.

The inner and outer sections 4 and 5, re-

sp'ectively, of the bag -receiving arm, are connected in thefollowing manner: The inner section is provided with a plate 17 (Fig.

4), resting upon its upper face, and said plate is provided with an apertured cone 18. The outer section 4 is provided with a con ical-shaped socket, in which extends the hollow conical extension 19 of plate 20, which plate is secured against the inner face or bottom of the section 5; the conical hollow extension 19 rests upon the apertured conical extension 18 producing a very efiicient bearing, which will allow independent rotary movement of the sections, and will also permit the outer section to swing around independently of the inner section. However, the sections 4 and 5 are practically locked against independent rotary movement, through the medium of a bolt 21 passing through the cone 18 and an aperture in the section 4, the head of the bolt resting upon the upper face of the section 5 and its lower threaded end extending below the lower face of the section 4 and upon the extreme end of the shank of the bolt are threaded locknuts 22, for preventing displacement of the coil-spring 23; the spring 23 being placed upon the shank of the bolt and positioned between the inner nut and the bearing plate 24, which plate 24 is secured against the bottom of the section 4. Therefore, by ad justing the nuts 22, the tension of the yielding member or spring 23 can be controlled, governing the frictional resistance offered against independent rotary movement of the two sections. The spring may be of sufiicient strength to entirely resist any independent rotary movement of the two members, provided the nuts 22 are threaded inward upon the shank of the bolt a sufficient distance, although an unusual heavy strain or load placed upon the outer end of section 5 might cause a slight rotary movement of said section independent of the inner sections. However, I have provided means for permitting the rotation of the bag-receiving device at its inner end by having the inner end of section 4 rotatably mounted upon the upper end of the standard or post 1.

The mounting of the inner end of the bag or load-receiving device comprises the securing of a casing 25 over the upper end of the standard 1, Fig. 5, and this casing is secured to the post by meansof bolts or rivets 26. The uper end of the casing 25 is provided with a conical extension 27. The plate 28 rests upon the casing 25, Fig. 5, and said plate is provided with a hollow, conical casing 29 surrounding the integral conical extension 27 of the casing, the plate is, preferably, secured to the lower face of section 4, the same as plate 20. When the mail bag is delivered upon the outer section 5, said section will rotate upon its bearing 21. The inner section 4, which is pivoted upon the conical portion 27, will also rotate to some extent, although the spring 23 is at a muchgreater tension than the spring 23.

The auxiliary standard 30 is provided with a flange or an enlarged base 31 resting upon the top of section 4, and said auxiliary standard 30 is provided with a depending stem 32, which stem is provided with a threaded lower end having thereon locked-nuts 22. Positioned between locked-nuts 22 and the lower face of the top portion or casing 25 is a coil spring 23, which performs the same functions as spring 23.

The inner section 4 is provided, at its rear end, with a laterally extending arm 33, which arm acts as a bumper support. The laterally-extending portion 33 is provided, at each end, with a bumper 34, which bumper acts to retard rotary movement of the outer arm 5. The outer arm 5 is provided, on each side, with a plate 35, which protects said arm and is so positioned upon said arm as to strike the bumper when rotated.

The delivering device of my apparatus comprises an upper sectional arm and a lower sectional arm. The upper sectional arm comprises an inner horizontal section 37 and an outer section 38, the outer section being pivotally connected at 39 to the outer end of the inner section 37. The inner section 37 is strengthened or braced by means of inclined braces 39 and 40. The outer section 38 is provided with a weight 41, at its inner end, and with a spring-clamp 42 at its outer end, for receiving, for instance, a ring shown by dotted lines 43, carried by one end of a bag 44. The lower arm comprises an inner section 45, which inner section is pivoted at 46, at its inner end, to a collar 47 positioned around the post or standard 1, and .is braced by means of an inclined brace 48, the brace 48 being secured at its upper end to an angle member 49 and at its lower end to the section 45. The outer section 50 of the lower arm is hinged at 51, so that normally it can drop down. When it is in a set position it is placed as shown in Fig. 1, by reason of the fact that the spring-clamp 51 carried at its outer end, receives a ring, as for instance, 52, secured to the lower or one end of bag 44.

The lower end of the vertical portion of the angle-member 49 is secured to the upper surface of the arm 45, and the other end 51 of the longitudinally-extending portion of the member 49 is provided with a recess 52, which fits over the square portion 53,11pon the depending portion 32. he horizontallyextending portion of the angle-member 49 works in a slot 54 so as to allow said anglemember to freely swing from right to left.

Below the collar 47 is positioned a bracket 55, said bracket being secured to the standard 1 by means of bolts 57. Near where the ends of the bracket are connected to the standard 1, are positioned bumpers 58 to limit the swing of the delivering arm, said bumpers being covered by cushioning material, such as rubber, Positioned upon the bag or loop to a car or the like.

: vices is reinforce bracket are a plurality of retarding devices, and, as each device is of the same structure, it will only be necessary to specifically de scribe one. A vertically-curved plate 59 is pivotally mounted, at 60, in a curved slot or opening 60 formed in the bracket, Figs. 7 and 8, and the plate 59 is provided, at its outer end, with a horizontal flange 61, which limits the upward movement of the retarding plate 59, by said flange 61 coming in contact with a shoulder or extension portion 62 on the bracket 55, Fig. 8. The upper portion of the retarding plate is normally held above the casing by means of a yielding member or spring 63, which engages, at its upper end, the bottom portion of the plate, and its lower end engages a substantially U-shaped bracket 64 secured to the lower face of the bracket 55, Fig. 8. When the lower bagdelivering arm is swung around upon the retarding device, the inner section 45 will come in contact with and ride over the upper inclined face of the retarding late 59, swinging the outer end of the retar ing plate downwardly and compressing the spring or yielding members 63 within the supportingbracket, thereby acting as a brake for retarding rotary movement of the bag-delivering device, caused usually by the delivery of a The structure of my apparatus is such as to overcome the rotary movement of the delivering apparatus when the bag is delivered therefrom. The bracket sup orting the retarding de- 5 by means of braces 55, which are secured, at their outer ends, to the bracket, and, at their inner ends, to the standard 1.

It is to be noted that the lower end of the extension 32, carrying the ends 21 and spring 23, is necessarily positioned in a cutout or recess portion 3 of the standard 1, Fig. 4, and, furthermore, by reason of this structure the auxiliary standard 34 is pivotally mounted upon the retarding device and secured to the receiving device upon the standard 1.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a standard, of a bagreceiving device rotatably mounted upon the upper end ofsaid standard, bag-holding and delivering means rotatably mounted upon the bag-receiving device and standard and securing said bag-receiving device to the upper end of said standard, and said bagholding and delivering means provided with means for retarding its rotary movement and also the rotary movement of said bag-receiving device.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a'support, of bag-receiving means rotatably mounted upon said support, bag-holding and delivering means rotatably mounted upon said bag-receiving means and securing said bag-receiving means to said support.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a bracket carried by said support, said bracket provided with a movable retarding device, and bag-receiving means carried by said support and adapted to rotate thereon.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support provided with a socket or recess portion, at its upper end, a casing positioned upon said upper end,

bag-holding means carried by said casing and adapted to rotate upon said casing, and means. positioned in the socket or recess portion of the post and engaging said bag-holding means and securing the same to said casing.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, a load-re ceiving arm rotatably mounted u on the upper end of said support, of a baglolding and delivering arm rotatably mounted upon said first-mentioned arm, and securing said firstmentioned arm to said support, and means for retarding rotary movement of said delivering arms and said receiving arm.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a standard, of an arm carried by said standard, an auxiliary standard provided with an extension, the extension extending through said arm, means carried by said extension for holding said standard and arm together, means for retarding rotary movement of either said arm or said standard, and load-holding means secured to both said arm and-auxiliary standard.

7. In an apparatusof the class described, the combination with a standard, of a casing inclosing portions of said standard, a bracket extending laterally from said standard, said bracket provided with integral extensions constituting bumpers, spring-pressed retarding devices carried by the bracket at opposite sides, and bag-supporting means movably mounted upon said casing and being ada ted to en age one or both of said retar ing-devices and said bumpers.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a casing carried by said support, said support provided with a bracket, a retarding-device carried by said bracket, said device comprising a pivotally-mounted plate, means for normally exerting pressure upon said plate, a bag-holding means carried by said su port and adapted to pass over and be retarded in its movement by said plate.

9 In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a bracket carried by said support, said bracket provided with an opening, a plate movably mounted upon saidv opening, a depending bracket carried by said first mentioned .bracket, and means engaging said depending.

vided with a bracket extending from one side.

thereof, said bracket provided with an open mg, a plate pivotally mounted near one end in said opening and ada ted to move therein, said plate provided with an extension for limiting its outward movement, a spring pressing against the plate and normally holding the extension in engagement with the bracket for ositioning the plate beyond one face of the bracket, and bag-holding means pivotally mounted upon the casing and adapted to engage the plate when swung upon said casing.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a casing, a laterally-extending bracket carried by said su port, said bracket provided with a plura ity of vertical openings, spring-pressed plates movably mounted in said openings, and bag-holding means adapted to swing upon the standard and engage either one of said plates.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a bracket carried by said support, yielding bumpers fixedly secured to said bracket retarding devices formed upon the front of said bracket, each retarding device com rising an opening in the casing, a curve late pivotally secured near one end in sai opening, said plate provided at its opposite end with a ange for limiting its ivotal movement, a substantially U-shapec bracket secured to the under face of the curved bracket near each opening, a spring engaging at one end said U-shaped bracket and at its opposite end said plate for normally exerting an outward pressure upon said plate, and bagholding means movably mounted upon said standard and being adapted to engage a portion of said retarding-device.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a horizontal bracket carried by said support, said bracket provided with retardingdevices and with a bumper on each side of said bracket, and load-delivering means movably mounted upon said support and being adapted to engage either one of said retarding devices, prior to engaging said bumper.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a casing provided with a conical extension, a bracket carried by said support, said bracket provided with retarding means, a bag-receiving arm resting u on the conical extension and and bag-delivering arms adapted to engage said retarding means for limiting their movement, subsequent to the removal of a load therefrom.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a casing provided with a conical bearing, a bag-holding device provided with a conical bearing, the bearing of the device positioned upon the bearing of the casing, and spring-pressed clamping-means extending through the bearings and holding the casing and device.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a standard provided with an extension and with horizontal bag-supporting means, the extension projecting through a portion of said support, yielding means positioned upon the extended end of the extension and yieldably holding the standard upon the sup ort, whereby rotary movement thereof wil be retarded by frictional contact with the support.

17. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a standard, of bagholding means rotatably mounted upon said standard, spring-pressed. retarding devices carried by said standard and adapted to be engaged by said bag-holding means for limiting its rotary movement, and a bumper carried by said standard and adapted to stop or prevent rotary movement of the bagholding means after the same engages said bumper.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a pair of sectional arms, constituting an upper and lower arm carried by said support, the sections of said lower arm hinged together, each arm provided with a clamp at its outer end, and means for causing a powerful frictional movement to be offered against rotary movement of the rotatable arm.

19. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a bagreceiving device carried by said support, said bag-receiving device comprising a sectional arm, each section provided with a plate having a conical ortion, tne conical portions of the plates eing positioned together, and spring-pressed means extendin through the sections and through the conica portions of said plates and securing said sections together.

20. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a rotatably-mounted arm carried by said support, said arm comprising a plurality of sections, a plate provided with a conical extension resting upon one of said extensions, a plate provided with a hollow conical extension, the hollow extension extending into the other section, the hollow extension positioned upon l the conical extension of the other plate, a

being rotatab y mounted upon said casing, Qbolt passing through the extensions and through the conical sections of the plate, a spring positioned upon one end of said bolt, and means adjusting the tension of said spring upon said sections for clamping the plates and sections together.

21'. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a bagreceiving device carried by said support, said bag-receiving device comprising an arm provided with sections, a sectional bearing formed upon the sections, and expansible fastening means securing said sections and the bearings together.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a bagreceiving device carried by said support, said bag-receiving device comprising an arm provided at its outer end with a curved guide, bracing means connected to the arm and to the outer ends of said guide, and a pivoted hook secured upon the guide and the outerend of said arm.

23. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a bagreceiving device carried by said support, said bag-receiving device comprising an arm, a ivoted hook positioned contiguous to said guide, said guide provided with a plurality of catch-devices, each catch-device comprising an aperture in the guide, and a cap secured over one end of the aperture,

a catch pivotally secured to said guide and provided with a cap, and a spring positioned in the ca of the catch and in the firstmentioneii cap for normally pressing outward upon the catch.

24. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a bag receiving device carried by said support, said device comprising an arm, a guide carried by said arm, a hook pivotally mounted upon said arm and adapted to be swung to either side thereof and 006 crating with said guide, and spring-pressed catches carried by the guide and positioned at opposite sides of the arm.

25. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of an arm rotatably mounted upon said support, said arm provided at its outer end with a curved guide, a hook positioned contiguous to said guide and pivotally-mounted spring-pressed catches carried by said guide and adapted to cooperate with said hook for securing a bag or load between the guide andthe hook.

26. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of an arm carried by said support, a guide secured to the outer end of said arm, a hook pivotally mounted upon the arm and ada ted to be swung to opposite sides thereof an cooperating with said guide, and spring-pressed catches carried by the guide at opposite sides of the arm and cooperatin with said guide and hook forholding the ag or load upon the arm.

27. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a standard, a mailreceiving arm mounted upon said standard, a mail-delivering arm positioned above said mail-receiving arm, and a mail-delivering arm positioned below said mail-receiving arm, said upper delivering arm provided with a depending portion, a recess ositioned in the top of said standard, sai depending portion positioned in said recess, a slot ositioned in one side of said standard, said slot registering With said recess, and an anglebrace connected to said depending portion,

and said lower delivering arm, and one part of said brace passing through said slot.

28. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a standard, of a casing carried by said standard, a mail-receiving arm mounted upon said casing, an auxiliary standard positioned above said mailreceiving arm, said auxiliary standard provided with a depending portion, said depending portion provided with a s uare portion, 'an angle-brace connecting sai support or delivering arm, and a square recess formed upon said angle-member, fitting around said square ortion upon said depending portion.

29. 11 an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a standard, a sectional mail-delivering arm, said arm pivotally mounted upon said standard, -a plurality of sectional delivering or supporting arms, said delivering-arms connected by means of an angle brace, said brace having its vertical portion connected to the lower arm and its longitudinal portion connected to the depending portion of said upper arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto amx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAURICE MEHREN S.

Witnesses:

GEORGE B. WILTSEY, F. W. KENNEY, Sr. 

